Loading Events

Ph.D. Career Stories: The Good, The Messy, and The Pivot

August 5 @ 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm

  • This event has passed.

Curious about how a social science Ph.D. can open doors to meaningful careers beyond the tenure track? Join us for Ph.D. Career Stories: The Good, the Messy, and the Pivot—a virtual conversation series spotlighting Cornell alumni who have translated their doctoral training into impactful roles inside and outside academia.

In this session, you’ll hear from three professionals working across urban policy, service design, AI ethics, visual anthropology, and community-based research. Whether they’re leading research at nonprofits, producing documentary films, teaching at universities, or advising on emerging technologies, each guest brings a unique perspective on building a career that blends human-centered values with impact-driven work.

What to expect:

  • Honest, informal conversation—no slides or scripts
  • Balancing university teaching with consulting or freelance work
  • Practical insight into navigating uncertainty, finding direction, and translating academic training into impact

If you’re actively exploring life beyond the academy or curious about hybrid paths that combine teaching, research, and creative work, this event will offer clarity, connection, and inspiration.

Register to attend.

 

Sena Aydin Bergfalk
Sena Aydin Bergfalk, Ph.D.  is a cultural anthropologist who works at the intersection of design research, strategy, and facilitation. She shapes service design projects across B2B and B2C ecosystems using a critical ethnographic lens to uncover assumptions and design services that connect business goals with human experiences. Sena earned a Ph.D. in Anthropology from Cornell in 2023 and is currently the Lead Service Designer at Sngular.
Marisa Turesky

Marisa Turesky, Ph.D is a community-based researcher and educator focused on equity in urban policy. She is Director of Research at Mockingbird Analytics, a Visiting Professor at UC Berkeley, and serves on the Board of Drag Performers United. Her work integrates trauma-informed and participatory action research to explore how identity shapes access to space and services. She holds a Ph.D. in Urban Planning & Development from the University of Southern California and a M.R.P. from Cornell University.

 

 

 

 

 

Mariangela Mihai, PhDMariangela Mihai, Ph.D. is a political and visual anthropologist whose work bridges generative AI, collaborative documentary, and social justice. She is an Assistant Professor at Western Washington University, a Red Teamer on Meta’s Generative AI Trust Team, and co-founder of the Ethnocine Film Collective, where she produces feminist films and impact campaigns. Her research and teaching focus on refugee rights, queer activism, Indigenous resistance, and ethical media practices across global contexts.